The FIFA World Cup is most-watched sporting event on the planet—nothing else comes close.
In 2022, the final between Argentina and France—where Lionel Messi finally lifted the trophy—pulled in a staggering 1.5 billion viewers worldwide. Across the entire tournament, FIFA estimates that around five billion people tuned in at some point.
That’s more than the Olympic Games, more than the Super Bowl, and more than any other global sporting spectacle.
With the 2026 World Cup taking place across the United States, Canada and Mexico—and featuring a record 48 teams—audience figures are expected to climb even higher. A larger field, three host nations, friendlier broadcast windows for audiences in the Americas and a growing soccer culture in the U.S. all point toward record-breaking global viewership.
So just how many people will tune in?
